Violence against Christians in Myanmar intensifying, warns Christian charity

Christians are being urged to pray for people in Myanmar as violence against believers continues to intensify.

Christian Charity Open Doors is warning people in the Christian-majority Chin State are being constantly targeted following an attack by Myanmar's military which burned more than 160 homes and two churches to the ground.

“Right now, I will not be wrong to say Myanmar is living in fear and the people by the people living in fear and anxiety. Especially the believers - there has been lots of fighting, continual fighting, since July, June, especially in Chin state,” Daysi, an Open Doors' partner in Myanmar explained.

In their advances Myanmar's military, has ransacked, shelled, and occupied churches, killing one pastor, and reportedly paralysing entire villages with fear.

According to Chin Human Rights Organisation, a Christian pastor who had attempted to put out the fires was shot dead by the military, his ring finger was cut off and his wedding ring was taken.

Chin state has been at the forefront of some of the strongest resistance to the Myanmar military junta following the 1st February coup.

More than 18,300 people have been displaced the attacks on Chin State, according to the United Nations Office of the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).

Myanmar is number 18 on Open Doors' World Watch List, an annual ranking of the 50 countries where Christians face the most extreme persecution.

Christians make up eight per cent of Myanmar’s population, according to Open Doors' World Watch Research.